19. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul _certain days_ with the _disciples_ which were at Damascus.--And straightway he preached _Christ_ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.--But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?--But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.--And after that _many days_ were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:--But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.--Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a _basket_.--And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.--But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.--And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.--And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.--30. Which, when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cæsarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus. In the above account--a remarkable incident is presented, by the occasion and manner of his escape from Damascus. In part, it has for its support an assertion made by Paul himself; but, as usual, as to part it is scarcely reconcileable with the account he gives of it. In respect of the adventure of the _basket_, the two accounts agree: and thus the occasion is identified and fixed. It is in respect of the description of the persons, by whom the attack upon him was made or meditated, that the accounts differ. According to the Acts, the hostile hands are those of the Jews, who are spoken of as so many unauthorized and criminal conspirators: but, according to Paul, they are those of the constituted authorities--a governor acting under a king. 31. "In Damascus"--says he, in 2 Cor. 11:32-33--"In Damascus, the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me. And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands."